TRP TRAIL EVO: RIDE REPORT!
Over the years I’ve primarily ran a mix of SRAM Guide and Code brakes. I love them, with a little regular maintenance they perform really well. Upgrade to some after market MTX Gold pads and they get even better. I’ve also been testing a set of the much loved Hayes Dominion A4 brakes, they feature a ton of power and a very light action at the lever. I have often wondered “is there something better and stronger?”
For this experiment I chose to give them the ultimate test and toss them on my Evil Epocalypse E-bike. With 170mm of travel and tipping the scales near 50 lbs she requires some serious stopping power and the stock ones were constantly remind me of Cakes song “you’re never there”
Modeled after their World cup proven DHR EVO brakes, the Trail EVO shares the same caliper, same lever blade, but a slightly different lever body. This creates a brake that gives riders confidence for pushing it but don’t need the full on DH brake power that the DHR posses. The finish on these brakes is top notch and they look just as good as other brands high end options.
When it comes to setup these are a breeze. The bleed process is very simple… cut the lines to size and attach a funnel to burp any air out of the lever. A full bleed is of course possible and should happen regularly to flush the all the fluid in the system. There’s plenty of room to adjust the caliper without rubbing the rotor. I personally run my levers in the middle range when it comes to distance from the bar… not to far out, but not freakishly close to the point where it rubs your other knuckles and almost makes contact to the grip. It didn’t take long to get the levers positioned where I needed them for my liking even though I’m picky.
On the trail I felt at home very quickly. They feature a “positive” on/off feel similar to Shimano yet resemble my SRAM brakes when it comes to modulation. Power is just a little bit under what the Hayes Dominion provide. Lever feel is consistent even when bombing long sections of the AT at OBW. They’re also very predictable… pulling the same amount every time just as they should. When things got super steep and fast at Duffield they settled me down and got me back under control. These easily check all the boxes when it comes to a brake and I’m very happy with them, but now I wonder what the DHR would be like. The quest for perfection never ends!
